Employees will use their respirators under the conditions specified by this program, and in accordance with the training they receive on the use of each particular respirator model.  In addition, the respirator shall not be used in a manner for which it is not certified by NIOSH or by its manufacturer.

• Employees are not permitted to wear tight-fitting respirators if they have any condition, such as the following:
  • Facial scars.
  • Facial hair.
  • Missing dentures that prevent them from achieving a good seal.
• Employees are not permitted to wear headphones, jewelry, or other articles that may interfere with the facepiece-to-face seal.
• Any required corrective glasses, goggles or other personal protective equipment must be worn in a manner that does not interfere with the seal of the facepiece to the face of the user.
• For all tight-fitting respirators, a seal check must be performed each time the respirator is put on.
• The continued effectiveness of a respirator must be reevaluated when there is a change in work area conditions, degree of employee exposure, or stress that may affect respirator effectiveness.
• When leaving the respirator use area employees must wash their faces and respirator facepieces as necessary to prevent eye or skin irritation associated with respirator use.
• Employees must leave the respirator use area if any of the following occur:
  • If they detect vapor or gas breakthrough, changes in breathing resistance, or leakage of the facepiece.
  • To replace the respirator or the filter, cartridge, or canister elements.
  • To wash their faces or respirators as necessary to prevent eye or skin irritation.
  • Conduct repairs or maintenance on a respirator where vapor or gas breakthrough was detected.
• The following precautions need to be taken to be sure that the respirator itself does not present a hazard.
  • Read and heed all instructions provided by the manufacturer on use, maintenance, cleaning, and care, and warnings regarding the respirator’s limitations.
  • Make sure that the respirator in use is adequately protecting against the contaminant of concern.
  • All respirators and cartridges/filters issued are certified by NIOSH and are designed to protect against specific contaminants.
  • Do not wear your respirator into atmospheres containing contaminants for which your respirator is not designed to protect against.
    • For example, a respirator designed to filter dust particles will not protect against gases, vapors, or very small solid particles of fumes or smoke.
  • Do not wear your air-purifying respirator in an oxygen deficient atmosphere (containing less than 19.5% oxygen content).
  • Keep track of your respirator so that you do not mistakenly use someone else’s respirator.

See the written WSU Respiratory Protection Program (pdf) for more information on:

• Respirator inspection procedures
• User seal check procedures
• Maintenance, cleaning, and storage procedures

Respirator Malfunction

For any malfunction (e.g., such as breakthrough, facepiece leakage, or improperly working valve), the respirator wearer should inform his or her supervisor that the respirator no longer functions as intended and go to a non-contaminant area for maintenance or to replace the respirator.

The supervisor must ensure that the employee receives the needed parts to repair the respirator or is provided with a new respirator prior to continuing work.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact our office at 313-577-1200. Thank you for your cooperation.

IDLH Atmospheres

WSU prohibits employees from entering a work environment where the atmosphere is classified immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH).  Procedures have not been established for employees who may be required to enter IDLH atmospheres.

In the event of an emergency, call WSU Police Department at 313-577-2222 from a safe location.